Pedal security system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a pedal security system for pedal mounting, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising a pedal rotatably mounted by means of a pedal axis, an opening for receiving and retaining said pedal axis which is connected with an expandable slot wherein said expandable slot receives said pedal axis by exceeding a mechanical limit load of the pedal axis.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pedal security system, particularlyfor motor vehicles which minimizes the risk of injury of the driver incase of an accident.

2. PRIOR ART

In case of a frontal collision of a motor vehicle, the present pedalsare for example pushed in the direction of the driver. This is mostlycaused by the connection of the pedal via a linkage with for example theclutch or the brake system of the motor vehicle. In case the motor orparts of the vehicle structure are pushed in the direction of the driverduring an accident, it is also possible that the pedals are moved in thedirection of the driver via the movement of the connecting linkage. Thisgenerates substantial injury of the driver which is to be prevented bymeans of a pedal security system. It is thus a permanent interest of theautomobile industry to increase the security of the passengers in motorvehicles, particularly of the driver.

The prior art provides different pedal security systems. These aremostly expensive lever constructions which move the pedal away from thedriver in case of an accident based on the movement or deformation ofthe vehicle structure. It is a further technical alternative to blockadethe pedal so that it cannot be moved in the direction of the driver. Thepedal security system of the DE 196 06 427 discloses a pedal mountingwhich releases the pedal axis in case of an accident. To this end, thepedal axis is mounted in a construction which displaces in case of anaccident so that the opening for mounting the pedal axis releases thesame downwardly. Then, the pedal can no longer be rotated in thedirection of the driver by means of the connected linkage via the pedalaxis and thus cause injuries. This assembly is, however, connected todifferent disadvantages. On the one hand, this pedal security system isprovided by an expensive technical construction which is connected tohigh production and maintenance costs. It is a further disadvantageousthat the pedal is freely moveable in the passenger compartment afterrelease of the pedal axis. This uncontrolled free movement can also leadto serious injuries of the driver.

A further pedal security system is disclosed by the DE 100 17 794. Thispedal security system is made of a bearing bush for the pedal axiscomprising a predetermined braking point. In case of an accident, thepedal axis is mechanically loaded by the connection for instance withthe vehicle structure. This mechanical loading leads to a failure of thebearing brush for the pedal axis based on the presence of saidpredetermined braking point. As soon as the bearing brush fails, thepedal axis as well as the whole pedal is released. Now, the pedal isonly connected with the linkage, for example of the clutch or the brakesystem. As already mentioned above in connection with the other pedalsecurity system, the pedal is now freely moveable and can also lead toinjuries of the driver. It is also disadvantageous that the bearingbrush for mounting the pedal axis is destroyed into pieces in case of anaccident which also can lead to injuries of the passengers.

It is therefore the problem of the present invention to provide a pedalsecurity system which further reduces the risk of injury of the drivercompared to the prior art and which additionally is realized by a cheaptechnical construction in view of manufacture and maintenance.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above problem is solved by a pedal security system according to thepresent invention. This pedal security system comprises a pedalrotatably mounted by means of a pedal axis, an opening for receiving andretaining said pedal axis in connection with an expandable slot whereinsaid expandable slot receives said pedal axis by exceeding a mechanicallimit load of the pedal axis.

The nature of the present invention or the basic principle of the pedalsecurity system according to the invention consists in the fact that thepedal is selectively moved out of the area of the driver withoutcompletely releasing the same from its mounting. To this end, thepresent invention comprises an arrangement retaining said pedal axiswhich rotatably fixes the pedal axis under normal conditions and whichin case of an accident provides a defined displacement path for thepedal axis and thus for the pedal. This defined path is predetermined byan expandable slot which expands by exceeding a mechanical limit loadand, thus, can receive said pedal axis. This pedal axis also providingthe rotating axis of said pedal is in this manner selectively moved outof the region of the driver and it is simultaneously hold fast orsecured to not cause injuries by the free movability of the pedal.Dependent on the construction of the respective motor vehicle, definedpaths or desirable course for displacing the pedal axis can bepredetermined by means of said expandable slot. In this manner, thepedal security system of the present invention can be optimally adaptedto the local requirements of all motor vehicles.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, thepedal security system comprises a pushing element. This pushing elementcooperates with the pedal axis in such a way that it pushes the pedalaxis into said expandable slot.

Preferably according to the invention, a mechanical connection existsbetween the pedal axis and parts of the motor vehicle which are deformedin case of an accident. By means of this deformation, a displacement ormovement is transmitted to the pedal axis so that the same is releasedfrom its opening. To this end, the pushing element provides a simpleconstruction which transmits the mechanical displacements or forces incase of an accident.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,said expandable slot predetermines a displacement path of the pedalaxis. It is also preferred according to the invention to form saidexpandable slot by an elongated hole which is partly closed by moveablelateral walls projecting there into.

As already mentioned, said expandable slot is connected to said openingaccommodating and retaining said pedal axis. In its basic shape, saidexpandable slot is formed by an elongated hole. Along the longer sidesof said elongated hole, lateral walls are configured which project intosaid elongated hole and which in this manner at least partly close saidexpandable slot. It is prevented by said projecting lateral walls thatsaid pedal axis slides out of said opening directly in said expandableslot under normal conditions, i.e. without an accident of the motorvehicle. These lateral walls are further moveably arranged. This meansthat they can be moved out of said elongated hole for example by theaction of a sufficient high mechanical loading so that said expandableslot forms a sufficient big elongated opening for receiving said pedalaxis.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,said moveable lateral walls can be bent away, brake away or pushed awaybased on the mechanical loading by said pedal axis.

Preferably according to the invention, in case of an accident saidmechanical loading is directly or indirectly transmitted to said pedalaxis in form of a displacement or a force. In turn, said pedal axistransmits this mechanical loading to said moveable lateral walls closingsaid expandable slot. In case the mechanical loading is sufficientlyhigh, the moveable lateral walls do not resist said mechanical loadingany longer and release said expandable slot. This means they are pushedout of said expandable slot by the pushing of the pedal axis so that anelongated hole is formed having similar cross-section as the opening forreceiving said pedal axis. Said pedal axis then slides along said pathwhich is predetermined by said expandable slot or said elongated hole.The moving of said lateral walls of the expandable slot can preferablyaccording to the invention be realized in different ways dependent onthe used material. For example in case a plastic material is used forthe lateral walls, they sidewardly break away due to a sufficiently highloading. It is also preferred according to the invention to make theselateral walls of plastic materials or metals which are outwardly bentaway by the loading of the pedal axis. In this case, the lateral wallsmaintain mounted and an injury of the passengers of the motor vehicle byflying parts is prevented.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,said moveable lateral walls are pushed away by said pedal axis againstthe load of a spring.

Preferably according to the invention, said lateral walls are mounted asdisplaceable constructions near said elongated hole. These lateral wallsare pushed into the inside of said elongated hole by means of springs sothat they close the same. In case the mechanical loading by the pedalaxis is sufficiently high, said lateral walls are pushed outwardlywithout destroying said expandable slot or said lateral walls and theirmechanical connection.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,said opening for receiving said pedal axis and said expandable slot arearranged in a pedal block.

4. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The present invention is described under reference to the accompanyingdrawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 a pedal module having a pedal security system according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 said expandable slot according to a preferred embodiment in thetwo states A, B; and

FIG. 3 the expandable slot in two preferred configurations according tothe invention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pedal security system particularlyused in connection with pedal modules I in motor vehicles.

It is generally known that motor vehicles are assembled in modularconstruction. Correspondingly, a pedal module I describes a component onwhich for example three pedals, the gas pedal, the clutch pedal and thebrake pedal, are mounted. The whole pedal module 1 is then as one partinstalled in a motor vehicle and connected to the corresponding systems.

An overview of a preferred embodiment of the pedal module 1 according tothe present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Said pedal module 1 comprisesa module block 10 serving for mounting said pedal module I in the motorvehicles. Furthermore, said module block 10 serves for receiving andmounting the pedal 20. Dependent on the vehicle type, said pedal module1 can comprise different number of pedals 20. According to theillustration in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present pedalmodule I comprises two different pedals 20 mounted in said module block10.

Said pedals 20 mounted in said pedal module 1 can on the one hand beconnected to electronic or on the other hand to mechanical actuatingunits. Just in case of the use of mechanical actuating units, anincreased risk of injury for the driver exists in case of an accidentsince these actuating units move the pedals in the region of the driver.To minimize the risk of injury of the driver, the present inventionprovides a pedal security system which can be integrated in pedalmodules 1 of different constructions. The pedal security systemaccording to the present invention is, thus, not limited to the pedalmodule shown in FIG. 1.

The rotatable mounting of the pedal 20 is realized by means of a pedalaxis 30. This pedal axis 30 is received in a corresponding opening 40and it is mounted by a clamp 34 according to the shown preferredembodiment of the pedal module 1. It is preferred according to theinvention to mount the different pedals 20 by means of single pedal axis30. It is also preferred to rotatably mount several pedal axis' 30 on acommon pedal axis 30. Further, said module block 10 comprises anexpandable slot 50 which is connected with said opening 40. Saidexpandable slot 50 is more detailed described below. Preferablyaccording to the invention, said pedal module I comprises a pushingelement 60 cooperating with said pedal axis 30. Said pushing element 60is fixed to a part of the vehicle structure or to a part of the car bodyof the vehicle which is such displaced in case of an accident that itmoves the pushing element 60 in a certain direction. By the movement ofsaid pushing element 60, the pedal axis 30 or several pedal axis' 30 arepushed into the respective expandable slot 50. It is also preferredaccording to the invention to fix said pushing element 60 on a vehiclepart not deforming during an accident. In this case, said pedal module Iexecutes a movement during an accident so that said pedal axis 30 ispushed in said expandable slot 50 by means of said pushing element 60.Said pushing element 60 has thus the function to transform the deformingmovement of the vehicle in case of an accident in a relative movementbetween the pedal axis 30 and the module block 10 with expandable slot50 so that said pedal axis 30 is moved in said expandable slot 50. Inthis manner, the risk of injury of the driver is minimized.

It is further preferred according to the invention to push said pedalaxis 30 in said expandable slot 50 by means of electromechanical,pneumatical or pyrotechnical components. Said components are preferablyaccording to the invention triggered by sensors as known in a similarmanner for airbags.

In order to optimally realize the above relative movement between saidpedal axis 30 and said module block 10 and to optimally adapt said pedalmodule I to all possible vehicle types, said expandable slot 50 canpreferably according to the invention be arbitrarily oriented in saidpedal block 10. The orientation is preferably according to the inventionchosen dependent on the deforming parts of the motor vehicle.Additionally, the movement of the pedal 20 is predetermined for the caseof an accident by the orientation of said expandable slot 50.

Based on the pedal security system according to the invention, thefollowing functions are realized to guarantee the security of thedriver. On the one hand, it is guaranteed by the present invention thatin case of a collision of a motor vehicle the pedals are not moved inthe region of the driver. On the other hand, it is assured that thepedal axis 30 on which the pedal 20 is mounted, is not released from themounting in the module block 10. The construction according to theinvention of the present pedal security system, thus, guarantees thatthe pedal 20 does not exist as freely moveable or as flying parts evenin case of an accident and therefore cause injuries of the passengers ofthe vehicle by their uncontrolled movement. Based on its constructionaccording to the invention, the present pedal security system realizes aselective and defined movement of the pedals out of the driver's regionwherein these pedals remain mounted in the module block 10 at the sametime.

The pedal 20 for example made of plastic material or metal is rotatablymounted on a pedal axis 30. The pedal axis 30 is also preferablyaccording to the invention made of plastic material of sufficientstrength. At its visible end, said pedal axis 30 comprises a projection32 so that said pedal axis 30 can be suitably mounted in an opening 40provided therefor. The projection 32 prevents a release of the pedalaxis 30 also during the later displacement in said expandable slot 50.Preferably according to the invention, said pedal axis 30 is mounted bymeans of a clamp 34 arranged between the projection 32 and the moduleblock 10. Preferably according to the invention, said clamp 34 transmitsa certain initial tension to the pedal axis 30. In this manner, anadditional free motion of the pedal axis 30 and the pedal 20 in itsmounting is prevented.

The opening 40 for receiving the pedal axis 30 is connected to anexpandable slot 50. Said expandable slot 50 is shown in detail in FIG.2. From its basic structure, said expandable slot 50 corresponds to anelongated hole. Starting from the longer sides, lateral walls 52 projectinwardly which preferably according to the invention at least partlyclose said expandable slot 50 or said elongated hole. It is alsopreferred according to the invention that said lateral walls 52completely close said expandable slot 50.

Without said lateral walls 52 according to the invention, said elongatedhole of said expandable slot 50 has a width which corresponds to thediameter of the opening 40 for receiving the pedal axis 30. Thepreferred identicalness according to the invention in the dimension ofthe opening 40 and the elongated hole of the expandable slot 50 servesfor the later receiving and the displacement of the pedal axis 30 in theexpandable slot 50.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, saidlateral walls 52 projecting in said expandable slot 50 are moveablyconfigured. Moveably means in this context that said lateral walls 52can be pushed out of or moved out of said expandable slot 50 by asufficient high mechanical load. Preferably according to the invention,said moving out of said lateral walls 52 is realized by bending ordismounting said lateral walls 52. To support said bending ordismounting, preferably according to the invention predetermined brakingpoints or diminution in the thickness of said lateral walls 52 arepreferably arranged at the edge of said elongated hole or saidexpandable slot 50. In case said lateral walls 52 are dismounted or forexample bent by an angle of 90° from their initial position, anelongated hole as mentioned above follows wherein its width preferablyaccording to the invention corresponds to the diameter of the opening 40for receiving said pedal axis 30.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,said lateral walls 52 are made of metal or non-breaking plastic materialso that a bending of these lateral walls 52 is possible without asubsequent dismounting. Based on this preferred inventive choice of thematerial for manufacture said lateral walls 52, it is guaranteed thatfor example in case of a collision of the motor vehicle no parts, inthis case the lateral walls 52, are released from the pedal module 1and, thus, can generate injuries of the passengers as freely moveableparts in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

According to a further preferred embodiment, said lateral walls 52 areformed by arbitrary arrangements of ribs or webs. With respect to thementioned arrangement, it is however important that it sufficientlysupports the pedal axis 30 during the normal operation. Only in case ofa collision of the motor vehicle, said ribs or webs preferred accordingto the invention fail and, in this manner, release the pedal axis 30.Preferred examples of the arrangement of said ribs or webs are shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Said ribs are preferably X-shaped or they extendlongitudinally in said expandable slot 50.

It is also preferred according to the invention to displaceably arrangesaid lateral walls 52 in track-like constructions (not shown). Saidtrack-like constructions preferably run approximately perpendicularly tosaid expandable slot 50 and said lateral walls 52 are biased by aspring. The initial tension of this spring guarantees that said lateralwalls 52 at least partly close said expandable slot 50 since it pushesthe lateral walls 52 in the inner of said expandable slot 50. Thereby,the pedal axis 30 is retained in the opening 40 under normal conditions.In case of a sufficient mechanical loading of the lateral walls 52higher than the initial spring tension of the lateral walls 52, saidlateral walls 52 are pushed outwardly and release in this manner saidexpandable slot 50. Said lateral walls 52 remain mounted by thisconstruction in the module block 10 and, thus, prevent a risk of injuryby freely moveable parts.

The movement of the pushing element 60 leads to a displacement of thepedal axis 30 along said expandable slot 50. During this displacement ofthe pedal axis 30, the same is not released from the module block 10.During displacing the pedal axis 30, said clamp 34 preferably accordingto the invention serves for the fact that even in case of an expansionof the expandable slot 50 over the diameter of said opening 40, arelease of the pedal axis 30 out of the module block 10 is prevented.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,beside the displacement of the pedal axis 30 said pushing element 60 canserve also for a fixing of said pedal axis 30 in the displaced position.This fixing of the pedal axis in its displaced position 30 prevents anunwanted movability of the pedal 20 within the expanded expandable slot50 which can also lead to injuries of the driver.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 pedal module-   10 module block-   20 pedal-   30 pedal axis-   32 projection-   34 clamp-   40 opening-   50 expandable slot-   52 lateral walls-   60 pushing element

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A pedal security system for pedal mounting,particularly in motor vehicles, comprising: a pedal rotatably mounted bymeans of a pedal axis; an opening for receiving and retaining the pedalaxis; and an expandable slot connected to the opening and defininglonger sides, the expandable slot comprising movable lateral walls alongthe slot longer sides, the movable lateral walls having a first positionin which the lateral walls project into the expandable slot and a secondposition in which the lateral walls are moved out of the expandableslot, wherein the pedal axis engages the movable lateral walls and movesthe lateral walls from the first position to the second position byexceeding a mechanical limit loading of the pedal axis, whereby theexpandable slot receives the pedal axis.
 9. The pedal security system ofclaim 8, wherein a pushing element cooperates with the pedal axis totransmit a load to the pedal axis, thereby forcing the pedal axis intothe expandable slot when the load exceeds the mechanical limit loadingof the pedal axis.
 10. The pedal security system of claim 8, wherein theexpandable slot defines a predetermined displacement path of the pedalaxis.
 11. The pedal security system of claim 10, wherein the expandableslot is formed by an elongated hole which is partly closed by themoveable lateral walls projecting therein.
 12. The pedal security systemof claim 11, wherein the moveable lateral walls are bent, dismounted, orpushed away from the expandable slot in response to the mechanical limitloading by the pedal axis.
 13. The pedal security system of claim 12,further including a spring coupled to the lateral walls, wherein themoveable lateral walls are pushed away by said pedal axis against a loadof the spring.
 14. The pedal security system of claim 8, wherein saidopening for receiving the pedal axis and said expandable slot arearranged in a pedal block.